Jim Harbaugh Named in Matt Weiss Hacking Lawsuit: Key Updates and Legal Analysis

By Jason Bolton June 30, 2025 07:27

Former University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has recently been named as a defendant in a high-profile class-action lawsuit stemming from the hacking scandal involving his former assistant coach, Matt Weiss. Weiss, who served as Michigan’s co-offensive coordinator, was indicted on multiple federal charges including 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. The allegations center on Weiss’s unauthorized access to private information of thousands of student-athletes across more than 100 colleges nationwide, primarily targeting female athletes' personal and intimate digital content.

The lawsuit, filed by 11 women and expanded to include nearly 50 defendants such as Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel and former university president Santa Ono, accuses Harbaugh and other university officials of failing to take timely and appropriate action despite being aware of Weiss’s misconduct. According to court documents, Weiss was observed accessing sensitive information on a computer at Michigan’s Schembechler Hall in December 2022, shortly before the Wolverines’ College Football Playoff semifinal against TCU on December 31. Despite this, Weiss was allowed to coach in that critical game.

Parker Stinar, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, criticized the university’s delayed response, stating, "The university's delay in taking meaningful protective action until after a high-stakes game sends a clear message: Student welfare was secondary." The complaint further asserts that Harbaugh “failed and refused to implement basic security measures” within the football program, thereby enabling Weiss to continue his illegal activities unchecked.

Harbaugh, now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, has publicly expressed shock and disturbance over the allegations. In March 2025, he told reporters, "Shocked. Completely shocked. Disturbed," emphasizing that he was unaware of Weiss’s actions until after the Fiesta Bowl. The Chargers organization has not issued an official comment on the lawsuit.

The scope of Weiss’s alleged hacking is staggering. Prosecutors claim Weiss illegally accessed the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of over 2,000 student-athletes and more than 1,300 other students or alumni, downloading private images and videos without consent. The indictment suggests Weiss used personal identifying information obtained from a third-party database linked to over 100 institutions to facilitate these breaches.

Legal experts note that the case raises significant questions about institutional responsibility and oversight in collegiate sports programs. The lawsuit’s argument that Harbaugh and Michigan officials prioritized football success over student safety touches on broader ethical concerns within college athletics. If proven, the allegations could set a precedent for how universities handle internal misconduct and protect vulnerable student populations.

Weiss was suspended and subsequently fired in January 2023 after a campus police investigation. He has pleaded not guilty and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 90 years if convicted on all counts.

This lawsuit adds a complex chapter to the ongoing fallout from the Weiss scandal, expanding liability beyond the individual accused to include top program leadership. As the case unfolds in federal court, attention will focus on whether Harbaugh’s oversight or lack thereof constitutes negligence or complicity in enabling Weiss’s violations.

In summary, the addition of Jim Harbaugh to the lawsuit underscores the serious institutional implications of the Matt Weiss hacking case. The allegations highlight failures in supervision and security protocols within a major collegiate football program, with potential ramifications for how universities safeguard student privacy in the digital age. The coming months will be critical in determining accountability and the broader impact on college sports governance.